CHICAGO — Clint Bowyer, meeting with the media Thursday, wouldn’t answer questions about his actions last Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway, where his late spin sparked a major controversy.

Bowyer said all he wants to say about it during five hours of interviews Tuesday at ESPN.

Clint Bowyer says he's tired of talking about his controversial spin at Richmond, which led to Michael Waltrip Racing being penalized. (AP Photo)

But could there be another reason?

“He’s forgot about it already, dude,” driver Kyle Busch said. “Bowyer is as even-keel as anybody. He has a very, very short memory because that ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), dude, it just takes over.”

Bowyer did his best Thursday to either forget about the incident or move on from the controversy that has embroiled him and Michael Waltrip Racing since he spun with seven laps remaining in the final regular-season race.

That spin started a chain of events — including MWR teammate Brian Vickers coming down pit road in the waning laps — that resulted in MWR’s Martin Truex Jr. making the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

NASCAR wasn’t amused and determined that MWR manipulated the finishing results and docked 50 points from Bowyer and Truex, issued a record $300,000 fine to the team and indefinitely suspended general manager Ty Norris.

While the penalty didn’t impact Bowyer because points were reset after the Chase field was set, it did knock Truex out of the Chase.

Bowyer has been vilified by fans and the media for not admitting that he spun on purpose and for not suffering a real penalty.

“There’s just too much attention on the team, on him for it not to have some sort of impact on at least what you’re thinking about,” Bowyer friend Kevin Harvick said. “The best way to get around it and put it all to bed is to go out on the racetrack and perform.

While not sounding frustrated, Bowyer was not interested at all about answering more questions about it Thursday during the Chase Media Day at Chicago’s Navy Pier.

“The one thing I can tell you is I am tired of talking about it. … I’ve had a rough couple of days, no question about that,” Bowyer said Thursday. “I’ve got that behind me and I’m focused on getting that helmet on and getting the most out of my racecar this weekend.

“I had a rough few days. It was probably rougher than I’ve ever had. But I spoke my peace. I did national interviews all day long (Tuesday). I could have just as easily ducked away from all of them and not gave an interview.”

Even when asked about the reports that surfaced Wednesday of David Gilliland and his team possibly receiving some sort of compensation for giving up a spot on the track to Joey Logano, Bowyer deflected the issue.

“I don’t know, it’s my job to put my helmet on, make sure my HANS is hooked up and make sure that car is as fast as possible,” he said.

About the only thing he did reiterate is that he believes that MWR deserved a penalty.

“MWR stepped over that line,” he said. “We got penalized.”

So how is Bowyer doing?

“I’m fine,” Bowyer said, then pausing for what appeared to be at least some comedic effect. “I’m angry that I’m looking at you (in the media).”

Bowyer then chuckled.

“I’m looking forward to the weekend, I really am,” Bowyer said. “I’m excited about the Chase.”

It’s not unexpected that Bowyer would try to handle the biggest controversy of his career with some light-heartedness. When things are going well, he’s about as loose as they come.

Just 11 days earlier, he spent the morning prior to Cup practice tweeting back and forth with country superstar and friend Blake Shelton.

“I never thought in a million years I’d be sitting here tweeting Blake Shelton’s dumb (butt) at 2 o’clock in the afternoon,” Bowyer quipped after tweeting. “Usually he’s not out of bed yet or he’s already drunk.”

That’s Bowyer — making fun of everyone and everything, not taking anything too seriously. Shelton even tweeted his support of Bowyer this week:

“Y'all should follow @ClintBowyer!!! The definition of team player!!! #hero” and tweeted several defenses to fans critical of Shelton’s view and Bowyer’s actions.

It’s hard not to like Bowyer, a former dirt-track racer and mechanic from Kansas who struck it big several years ago thanks to an opportunity from Richard Childress. He likes to have fun and often wonders why drivers stay holed up in their motorhomes on race weekends.

“It’s like it’s a written rule as soon as you cross that gate, haul ass to your motorhome as fast as you can and do not come outside,” Bowyer said during an interview 11 days ago.

“You might freeze to death. … I’m the type of guy that, let’s get the grille out and pull a cooler up and make fun of each other for a little while. It is what it is. Everybody enjoys this. I do believe that. But it is weird how it’s gotten so serious that it’s like people take it beyond where it needs to be.”

That’s probably how Bowyer views this situation. He knows it’s serious but he even joked on ESPN that he’s not dead and life will go on.

He’s not going to let his controversial spin blow up in his face. Two weeks ago, he said: “We had a great year last year but we’ve been even more solid this year. … This is the best chance I’ve ever had.”

He vowed Thursday that that remains the case — “this is the first time in my life that I have ever had a true honest opportunity at a championship” — but no one will know the impact until he gets on the track Friday.

“He comes across as the guy that can’t make it through a cup of coffee without being distracted,” Harvick said. “But when it comes down to it and he’s got to do it, he can do it.

“He’s going to be the guy that probably handles it the best from everything I’ve heard out of the organization so far. … It’s something he just has to deal with. It’s not going to go away, and that’s going to be the hard part.”